The document discusses the Intel 8279 keyboard display controller chip. It provides an overview of the chip's architecture and functionality. Specifically, it describes how the 8279 interfaces keyboards and displays with CPUs, allowing the CPU to be free for other tasks by handling keyboard scanning and display refreshing itself. It also details the various input and output modes the 8279 supports for keyboards and displays, such as scanned keyboard, scanned sensor matrix, and strobed input modes.

1. 8279
• While studying 8255, we have explained the use of 8255 in
interfacing keyboards and displays with 8086. The
disadvantages of this method of interfacing keyboard and
display with 8086 is that the processor has to refresh the
display and check the status of the keyboard periodically
using polling technique. Thus a considerable amount of
CPU time is wasted, reducing the system operating speed.
• Intel’s 8279 is a general purpose keyboard display
controller that simultaneously drives the display of a
system and interfaces a keyboard with the CPU, leaving it
free for its routine task.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 1

2. Architecture and Signal Descriptions of
8279 (cont..)
• The keyboard display controller chip 8279 provides:
a) a set of four scan lines and eight return lines for
interfacing keyboards
b) A set of eight output lines for interfacing display.
• Fig shows the functional block diagram of 8279
followed by its brief description.
• I/O Control and Data Buffers : The I/O control section
controls the flow of data to/from the 8279. The data
buffers interface the external bus of the system with
internal bus of 8279.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 2

3. Architecture and Signal Descriptions of
8279 (cont..)
• The I/O section is enabled only if CS is low. The pins A0,
RD and WR select the command, status or data read/write
operations carried out by the CPU with 8279.
• Control and Timing Register and Timing Control :
These registers store the keyboard and display modes and
other operating conditions programmed by CPU. The
registers are written with A0=1 and WR=0. The Timing
and control unit controls the basic timings for the operation
of the circuit. Scan counter divide down the operating
frequency of 8279 to derive scan keyboard and scan
display frequencies.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 3

4. Architecture and Signal Descriptions of
8279 (cont..)
• Scan Counter : The scan counter has two modes to scan
the key matrix and refresh the display. In the encoded
mode, the counter provides binary count that is to be
externally decoded to provide the scan lines for keyboard
and display (Four externally decoded scan lines may drive
upto 16 displays). In the decode scan mode, the counter
internally decodes the least significant 2 bits and provides
a decoded 1 out of 4 scan on SL0-SL3( Four internally
decoded scan lines may drive upto 4 displays). The
keyboard and display both are in the same mode at a time.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 4

5. Architecture and Signal Descriptions of
8279 (cont..)
• Return Buffers and Keyboard Debounce and Control:
This section for a key closure row wise. If a key closer is
detected, the keyboard debounce unit debounces the key
entry (i.e. wait for 10 ms). After the debounce period, if
the key continues to be detected. The code of key is
directly transferred to the sensor RAM along with SHIFT
and CONTROL key status.
• FIFO/Sensor RAM and Status Logic: In keyboard or
strobed input mode, this block acts as 8-byte first-in-first-out
(FIFO) RAM. Each key code of the pressed key is
entered in the order of the entry and in the mean time read
by the CPU, till the RAM become empty.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 5

6. Architecture and Signal Descriptions of
8279 (cont..)
• The status logic generates an interrupt after each FIFO read
operation till the FIFO is empty. In scanned sensor matrix
mode, this unit acts as sensor RAM. Each row of the
sensor RAM is loaded with the status of the corresponding
row of sensors in the matrix. If a sensor changes its state,
the IRQ line goes high to interrupt the CPU.
• Display Address Registers and Display RAM : The
display address register holds the address of the word
currently being written or read by the CPU to or from the
display RAM. The contents of the registers are
automatically updated by 8279 to accept the next data
entry by CPU.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 6

7. RD WR
CS A0
I/O
CONTROL
INTERNAL 8 BIT DATA BUS
16*8
DISPLAY
RAM
CLK
CONTROL
AND
TIMING
REGISTERS
RESET
TIMING
AND
CONTROL
UNIT
SCAN
COUNTER
OUT A BD 0-A3
OUT B0-B3
SL0 – SL3
8279 Internal Architecture
FIFO/SENSOR
RAM STATUS
KEYBOARD
DEBOUNCE
AND
CONTROL
Return
DB0-DB7
DATA
BUFFERS
DISPLAY
ADDRESS
REGISTERS
8*8 FIFO/
SENSOR
RAM
DISPLAY
REGISTERS
SHIFT
RL0 – RL7 CNTL/
STB
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8. 8279
123456789
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
40
39
38
37
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
Vcc
RL1
RL0
CNTL/STB
SHIFT
SL3
SL2
SL1
SL0
OUT B0
OUT B1
OUT B2
OUT B3
OUT A0
OUT A1
OUT A2
OUT A3
BD
CS
A0
RL2
RL3
CLK
IRQ
RL4
RL5
RL6
RL7
RESET
RD
WR
DB0
DB1
DB2
DB3
DB4
DB5
DB6
DB7
Vss
8279 Pin Configuration
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9. Vcc
8279
OUT A0-A3
OUT B0 – B3
Vss
RL0-7 8
SHIFT
CNTL/
STB
SL0-3 4
BD
SCAN
4
4
KRY DATA
IRQ
DB0 – DB7
RD
WR
CS
A0
RESET
CLK
8
DISPLAY
DATA
CPU
INTERFACE
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 9

10. Architecture and Signal Descriptions of
8279 (cont..)
• The signal discription of each of the pins of 8279 as
follows :
• DB0-DB7 : These are bidirectional data bus lines. The data
and command words to and from the CPU are transferred
on these lines.
• CLK : This is a clock input used to generate internal
timing required by 8279.
• RESET : This pin is used to reset 8279. A high on this line
reset 8279. After resetting 8279, its in sixteen 8-bit display,
left entry encoded scan, 2-key lock out mode. The clock
prescaler is set to 31.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 10

11. Architecture and Signal Descriptions of
8279 (cont..)
• CS : Chip Select – A low on this line enables 8279 for
normal read or write operations. Other wise, this pin
should remain high.
• A0 : A high on this line indicates the transfer of a
command or status information. A low on this line
indicates the transfer of data. This is used to select one of
the internal registers of 8279.
• RD, WR ( Input/Output ) READ/WRITE – These input
pins enable the data buffers to receive or send data over the
data bus.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 11

12. Architecture and Signal Descriptions of
8279 (cont..)
• IRQ : This interrupt output lines goes high when there is a
data in the FIFO sensor RAM. The interrupt lines goes low
with each FIFO RAM read operation but if the FIFO RAM
further contains any key-code entry to be read by the CPU,
this pin again goes high to generate an interrupt to the
CPU.
• Vss, Vcc : These are the ground and power supply lines for
the circuit.
• SL0-SL3-Scan Lines : These lines are used to scan the key
board matrix and display digits. These lines can be
programmed as encoded or decoded, using the mode
control register.
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13. Architecture and Signal Descriptions of
8279 (cont..)
• RL0 - RL7 - Return Lines : These are the input lines
which are connected to one terminal of keys, while the
other terminal of the keys are connected to the decoded
scan lines. These are normally high, but pulled low when a
key is pressed.
• SHIFT : The status of the shift input lines is stored along
with each key code in FIFO, in scanned keyboard mode. It
is pulled up internally to keep it high, till it is pulled low
with a key closure.
• BD – Blank Display : This output pin is used to blank the
display during digit switching or by a blanking closure.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 13

14. Architecture and Signal Descriptions of
8279
• OUT A0 – OUT A3 and OUT B0 – OUT B3 – These are
the output ports for two 16*4 or 16*8 internal display
refresh registers. The data from these lines is synchronized
with the scan lines to scan the display and keyboard. The
two 4-bit ports may also as one 8-bit port.
• CNTL/STB- CONTROL/STROBED I/P Mode : In
keyboard mode, this lines is used as a control input and
stored in FIFO on a key closure. The line is a strobed lines
that enters the data into FIFO RAM, in strobed input mode.
It has an interrupt pull up. The lines is pulled down with a
key closer.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 14

15. Modes of Operation of 8279 (cont..)
• The modes of operation of 8279 are as follows :
1. Input (Keyboard) modes.
2. Output (Display) modes.
• Input ( Keyboard ) Modes : 8279 provides three input
modes. These modes are as follows:
1. Scanned Keyboard Mode : This mode allows a key
matrix to be interfaced using either encoded or decoded
scans. In encoded scan, an 8*8 keyboard or in decoded
scan, a 4*8 keyboard can be interfaced. The code of key
pressed with SHIFT and CONTROL status is stored into
the FIFO RAM.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 15

16. Modes of Operation of 8279 (cont..)
2. Scanned Sensor Matrix : In this mode, a sensor array
can be interfaced with 8279 using either encoded or
decoded scans. With encoded scan 8*8 sensor matrix or
with decoded scan 4*8 sensor matrix can be interfaced.
The sensor codes are stored in the CPU addressable
sensor RAM.
3. Strobed input: In this mode, if the control lines goes
low, the data on return lines, is stored in the FIFO byte
by byte.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 16

17. Modes of Operation of 8279
• Output (Display) Modes : 8279 provides two output
modes for selecting the display options. These are
discussed briefly.
1. Display Scan : In this mode 8279 provides 8 or 16
character multiplexed displays those can be organized as
dual 4- bit or single 8-bit display units.
2. Display Entry : ( right entry or left entry mode ) 8279
allows options for data entry on the displays. The display
data is entered for display either from the right side or
from the left side.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 17

18. Keyboard Modes (cont..)
i. Scanned Keyboard mode with 2 Key Lockout : In
this mode of operation, when a key is pressed, a
debounce logic comes into operation. During the next
two scans, other keys are checked for closure and if no
other key is pressed the first pressed key is identified.
• The key code of the identified key is entered into the
FIFO with SHIFT and CNTL status, provided the
FIFO is not full, i.e. it has at least one byte free. If the
FIFO does not have any free byte, naturally the key
data will not be entered and the error flag is set.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 18

19. Keyboard Modes (cont..)
• If FIFO has at least one byte free, the above code is
entered into it and the 8279 generates an interrupt on IRQ
line to the CPU to inform about the previous key closures.
If another key is found closed during the first key, the
keycode is entered in FIFO.
• If the first pressed key is released before the others, the
first will be ignored. A key code is entered to FIFO only
once for each valid depression, independent of other keys
pressed along with it, or released before it.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 19

20. Keyboard Modes (cont..)
• If two keys are pressed within a debounce cycle
(simultaneously ), no key is recognized till one of them
remains closed and the other is released. The last key,
that remains depressed is considered as single valid
key depression.
ii. Scanned Keyboard with N-Key Rollover : In this
mode, each key depression is treated independently.
When a key is pressed, the debounce circuit waits for 2
keyboards scans and then checks whether the key is
still depressed. If it is still depressed, the code is
entered in FIFO RAM.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 20

21. Keyboard Modes (cont..)
• Any number of keys can be pressed simultaneously
and recognized in the order, the keyboard scan
recorded them. All the codes of such keys are entered
into FIFO.
• In this mode, the first pressed key need not be released
before the second is pressed. All the keys are sensed in
the order of their depression, rather in the order the
keyboard scan senses them, and independent of the
order of their release.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 21

22. Keyboard Modes (cont..)
iii. Scanned Keyboard Special Error Mode : This mode
is valid only under the N-Key rollover mode. This
mode is programmed using end interrupt / error mode
set command. If during a single debounce period ( two
keyboard scans ) two keys are found pressed , this is
considered a simultaneous depression and an error flag
is set.
• This flag, if set, prevents further writing in FIFO but
allows the generation of further interrupts to the CPU
for FIFO read. The error flag can be read by reading
the FIFO status word. The error Flag is set by sending
normal clear command with CF = 1.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 22

23. Keyboard Modes.
iv. Sensor Matrix Mode : In the sensor matrix mode, the
debounce logic is inhibited. The 8-byte FIFO RAM
now acts as 8 * 8 bit memory matrix. The status of the
sensor switch matrix is fed directly to sensor RAM
matrix. Thus the sensor RAM bits contains the row-wise
and column wise status of the sensors in the
sensor matrix.
• The IRQ line goes high, if any change in sensor value
is detected at the end of a sensor matrix scan or the
sensor RAM has a previous entry to be read by the
CPU. The IRQ line is reset by the first data read
operation, if AI = 0, otherwise, by issuing the end
interrupt command. AI is a bit in read sensor RAM
word.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 23

24. Display Modes (cont..)
• There are various options of data display. For example, the
command number of characters can be 8 or 16, with each
character organised as single 8-bit or dual 4-bit codes.
Similarly there are two display formats.
• The first one is known as left entry mode or type writer
mode, since in a type writer the first character typed
appears at the left-most position, while the subsequent
characters appear successively to the right of the first one.
The other display format is known as right entry mode, or
calculator mode, since in a calculator the first character
entered appears at the rightmost position and this character
is shifted one position left when the next characters is
entered.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 24

25. Display Modes (cont..)
• Thus all the previously entered characters are shifted left
by one position when a new characters is entered.
i. Left Entry Mode : In the left entry mode, the data is
entered from left side of the display unit. Address 0 of
the display RAM contains the leftmost display
characters and address 15 of the RAM contains the right
most display characters. It is just like writing in our
address is automatically updated with successive reads
or writes. The first entry is displayed on the leftmost
display and the sixteenth entry on the rightmost display.
The seventeenth entry is again displayed at the leftmost
display position.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 25

26. Display Modes
ii. Right Entry Mode : In this right entry mode, the first
entry to be displayed is entered on the rightmost display.
The next entry is also placed in the right most display
but after the previous display is shifted left by one
display position. The leftmost characters is shifted out of
that display at the seventeenth entry and is lost, i.e. it is
pushed out of the display RAM.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 26

27. Command Words of 8279 (cont..)
• All the command words or status words are written or
read with A0 = 1 and CS = 0 to or from 8279. This
section describes the various command available in
8279.
a) Keyboard Display Mode Set – The format of the
command word to select different modes of operation of
8279 is given below with its bit definitions.
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 A0
0 0 D D D K K K 1
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 27

28. D D Display modes
0 0
0 1
1 0
1 1
Eight 8-bit character Left entry
Sixteen 8-bit character left entry
Eight 8-bit character Right entry
Sixteen 8-bit character Right entry
K K K Keyboard modes
0 0 0 Encoded Scan, 2 key lockout ( Default after reset )
0 0 1
Decoded Scan, 2 key lockout
0 1 0
Encoded Scan, N- key Roll over
0 1 1
Decoded Scan, N- key Roll over
1 0 0
Encode Scan, N- key Roll over
1 0 1
Decoded Scan, N- key Roll over
1 1 0
Strobed Input Encoded Scan
1 1 1
Strobed Input Decoded Scan
Fig:
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 28

29. Command Words of 8279 (cont..)
b) Programmable clock : The clock for operation of 8279
is obtained by dividing the external clock input signal by
a programmable constant called prescaler.
• PPPPP is a 5-bit binary constant. The input frequency is
divided by a decimal constant ranging from 2 to 31,
decided by the bits of an internal prescaler, PPPPP.
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 A0
0 0 1 P P P P P 1
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 29

30. Command Words of 8279 (cont..)
c) Read FIFO / Sensor RAM : The format of this
command is given below.
• This word is written to set up 8279 for reading FIFO/
sensor RAM. In scanned keyboard mode, AI and AAA
bits are of no use. The 8279 will automatically drive data
bus for each subsequent read, in the same sequence, in
which the data was entered.
• In sensor matrix mode, the bits AAA select one of the 8
rows of RAM. If AI flag is set, each successive read will
be from the subsequent RAM location.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 30

31. D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 A0
0 1 0 AI X A A A 1
X – don’t care
AI – Auto Increment Flag
AAA – Address pointer to 8 bit FIFO RAM
Fig
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 31

32. Command Words of 8279 (cont..)
d) Read Display RAM : This command enables a
programmer to read the display RAM data. The CPU
writes this command word to 8279 to prepare it for
display RAM read operation. AI is auto increment flag
and AAAA, the 4-bit address points to the 16-byte
display RAM that is to be read. If AI=1, the address will
be automatically, incremented after each read or write to
the Display RAM. The same address counter is used for
reading and writing.
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 A0
0 1 1 AI A A A A 1
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 32

33. Command Words of 8279 (cont..)
e) Write Display RAM :
AI – Auto increment Flag.
AAAA – 4 bit address for 16-bit display RAM to be
written.
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 A0
1 0 0 AI A A A A 1
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 33

34. Command Words of 8279 (cont..)
f) Display Write Inhibit/Blanking : The IW ( inhibit
write flag ) bits are used to mask the individual nibble
as shown in the below command word. The output lines
are divided into two nibbles ( OUTA0 – OUTA3 ) and (
OUTB0 – OUTB3 ), those can be masked by setting the
corresponding IW bit to 1.
• Once a nibble is masked by setting the corresponding
IW bit to 1, the entry to display RAM does not affect the
nibble even though it may change the unmasked nibble.
The blank display bit flags (BL) are used for blanking A
and B nibbles.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 34

35. Command Words of 8279 (cont..)
• Here D0, D2 corresponds to OUTB0 – OUTB3 while D1
and D3 corresponds to OUTA0-OUTA3 for blanking and
masking.
• If the user wants to clear the display, blank (BL) bits are
available for each nibble as shown in format. Both BL bits
will have to be cleared for blanking both the nibbles.
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 A0
1 0 1 X IW IW BL BL 1
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 35

36. Command Words of 8279 (cont..)
g) Clear Display RAM : The CD2, CD1, CD0 is a
selectable blanking code to clear all the rows of the
display RAM as given below. The characters A and B
represents the output nibbles.
• CD2
must be 1 for enabling the clear display command.
If CD2 = 0, the clear display command is invoked by
setting CA=1 and maintaining CD1, CD0 bits exactly
same as above. If CF=1, FIFO status is cleared and IRQ
line is pulled down.
• Also the sensor RAM pointer is set to row 0. if CA=1,
this combines the effect of CD and CF bits. Here, CA
represents Clear All and CF as Clear FIFO RAM.
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 36

37. D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 A0
1 1 0 CD2
CD1 CD0 CF CA 1
CD2 CD1 CD0
1 0 X
1 1 0
1 1 1
All zeros ( x don’t care ) AB=00
A3-A0 =2 (0010) and B3-B0=00 (0000)
All ones (AB =FF), i.e. clear RAM
Fig
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 37

38. Command Words of 8279 (cont..)
h) End Interrupt / Error mode Set : For the sensor matrix
mode, this command lowers the IRQ line and enables
further writing into the RAM. Otherwise, if a change in
sensor value is detected, IRQ goes high that inhibits
writing in the sensor RAM.
• For N-Key roll over mode, if the E bit is programmed to
be ‘1’, the 8279 operates in special Error mode. Details
of this mode are described in scanned keyboard special
error mode. X- don’t care.
D7 D6 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 A0
1 1 1 E X X X X 1
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 38

39. 8
Shift
Control
Return
lines
RL0-
7
S0-3
8279
INT
D0-7
IOR
IOW
Reset
CS
A0
Vss 0V
CLK B0-3 A0-3
4
V 5V DD
Scan
lines
Blank
display
4
INTR
AD0-AD15
A16-A19
8086
RD
WR
INT2
A0L-A19L
Address
decoder
A0L
PCLK
(from 8284)
8259
Interru
pt
controll
er
8282 (3)
Address
latch
A1L-A3L
Key board
matrix
8 columns
8 rows
8
3-8 decoder
3
4-16 decoder
Address
Display
character
data
BD
M. Krishna Kumar MM/M3/LU9c/V1/2004 39
16
4
Data bus
Fig